11th September 2011
Targets
There have been a lot of changes recently. The obvious one would be Jomar leaving and replaced by Reuben. Due to the BMs switching there’s been a huge change to the schedule where we are working more and more.
The patterns on gangway have also changed. Usually if I’m on gangway I’m in costume. Today, in Athens, I was shooting Zoran the Greek God. Fabio was teamed up with Sanela the Greek Goddess. In a way I was kind of disappointed at not being the Greek Goddess, but as long as I get to wear my Crete Girl/Lady Corsica costume, I’m happy. Leandro was also on gangway shooting the rail which soon turned into free shooting as the crowds became impossible.
Zoran and I were running around like morons grabbing people from both ends of the gangway while Fabio and Sanela stuck to tours. Later on, during gangway Zoran and I situated ourselves on the exit.
I’m not a bad shooter but I’m definitely not one of the fastest. Zoran was a star and gave me a great tip. He told me he wasn’t going to move around too much when we have a stream of guests. I was to use him for a rough idea of the cropping and judge the rest of the space I needed to fit the guests in. I knew that part but it was the next bit that was the greatest help and yet, it seems to obvious now. Zoran said to focus on him so as soon as a guest walked in the frame I was to fire the shutter release button. Usually once there are guests in the frame I’ll focus and shoot. Although it seems like something so small as to focus and fire, it actually speeds things up a lot.
I’m not a bad shooter but I’m definitely not one of the fastest. Zoran was a star and gave me a great tip. He told me he wasn’t going to move around too much when we have a stream of guests. I was to use him for a rough idea of the cropping and judge the rest of the space I needed to fit the guests in. I knew that part but it was the next bit that was the greatest help and yet, it seems to obvious now. Zoran said to focus on him so as soon as a guest walked in the frame I was to fire the shutter release button. Usually once there are guests in the frame I’ll focus and shoot. Although it seems like something so small as to focus and fire, it actually speeds things up a lot.
Leandro hit his target in no time and told us he was done. Zoran and I told him he needed to come back out after his break as it was early and we needed to counts for Istanbul. Agreed, he went inside with Zoran and I for a break.
Re-appearing a little later Leandro said he’d gone slightly over his target so wasn’t going out again. We repeated that we needed to get our counts up because we will need them for Istanbul (if you hit the target you get more time off and have to push less for images later on). You might as well get the guests while they are good at the start of the cruise rather than at the end when they are sick of the sight of us photographers.
Re-appearing a little later Leandro said he’d gone slightly over his target so wasn’t going out again. We repeated that we needed to get our counts up because we will need them for Istanbul (if you hit the target you get more time off and have to push less for images later on). You might as well get the guests while they are good at the start of the cruise rather than at the end when they are sick of the sight of us photographers.
Back on gangway the costumes and shooters were near their 450 target. This particular gangway had been a lot harder than normal. Reuben came out to see how we were getting on. He didn’t look too pleased at our results either. Noticing Leandro was missing, Reuben started asking questions. It wasn’t long until Reuben was calling Leandro’s cabin for him to get his arse back out on gangway for the remaining hour and a half.
We finished gangway 20 minutes early. After rushing upstairs for something to eat, I packed my bag and headed out. Realizing I’d forgotten my wallet I had to wait fifteen minutes in the queue to get back on the ship! Just my luck! Just as I swiped my ID card to get off the ship the shuttle bus was leaving. Brilliant! There was another fifteen minute wait for the next shuttle bus. Luckily enough for me, I had one of the security guys to talk to for a bit. I have absolutely no idea what is name is but he worked on the ship for the first couple of months of my contract. He’s recently come back to the Mariner from his vacation.
Jumping on the bus, I walked around to Everest to use the internet. Usually the internet is great in Athens but today, it was terrible. Going back to the ship I had just over an hour to spare before a night in the gallery. Putting the free time to good use, I took a nap.
I finished for the night at 21.30 but there was due to be a meeting at 23.30. Once the gallery was closed, we had a meeting in the Photographer’s Corridor which actually started at 00.15. The meeting was about a number of different things but mainly our targets and a new system.
We had a new system for the GTP. Rather than selling the CD for one price and adding all the prints on top for an extra US$50, we were to price the images by batch. CD plus 10 photos was now to be priced as $299.95 plus $50, 20 images - $75 and all pictures - $150. Only on the first day could guests buy the GTP and all photos for US$349.50 as a promotion to get the image counts up.
Next we were told we were all going to be given individual targets based on how long we’d spend in the gallery. The average targets, which had been drawn up for us, were based on 30 hours per cruise. Here’s what we had to sell within 30 hours of a two week cruise:
4 Cameras (based on the lowest price camera)
58 folios/frames/scrapbooks and kits
1 GTP
8 DVDs
It seems relatively easy when you see the numbers based on two week cruises but with the guests we have on board, it’s not. Guests in Europe and on long cruises aren’t too keen on putting their hands in their pockets unless it’s for holy water! The targets are per person in the team. Times the numbers by 10 people and the numbers start rising dramatically. 20 cameras a week – maybe in the Caribbean but not here.
There will also be incentives if we hit our targets. The top one or two sellers would get a prize or a main incentive – what those we would, we didn’t know. The managers were indecisive. This would also be done on a point basis, the leading seller earning 10 points. Those who score the least amount would be given training to improve. On top of that, they'd receive additional jobs such as taking out the trash and even going as far as doing the jobs the leading sellers didn't want to do.
The Mariner of the Seas Photog team is turning into Eton!
4 Cameras (based on the lowest price camera)
58 folios/frames/scrapbooks and kits
1 GTP
8 DVDs
It seems relatively easy when you see the numbers based on two week cruises but with the guests we have on board, it’s not. Guests in Europe and on long cruises aren’t too keen on putting their hands in their pockets unless it’s for holy water! The targets are per person in the team. Times the numbers by 10 people and the numbers start rising dramatically. 20 cameras a week – maybe in the Caribbean but not here.
There will also be incentives if we hit our targets. The top one or two sellers would get a prize or a main incentive – what those we would, we didn’t know. The managers were indecisive. This would also be done on a point basis, the leading seller earning 10 points. Those who score the least amount would be given training to improve. On top of that, they'd receive additional jobs such as taking out the trash and even going as far as doing the jobs the leading sellers didn't want to do.
The Mariner of the Seas Photog team is turning into Eton!
Ending the night we were given our Ocean Pay debit cards along with the terms and conditions. Very few people were happy to have their Ocean Pay cards. They’ll soon come into effect too, but we don't have a definite date.
Ocean Pay is supposed to be a better way for us to get paid, transfer money etc. It’s a great idea if you’re on the receiving end of it all. The cards, according to the terms and conditions, are going to cost us $5 a month. Image HQ say, this isn't true. There’s a page long list of all the charges which are a real turn off. When reading through it all, it seemed the words “turn off" were, in fact, an understatement. If the card gets lost or stolen the card holder would be charged $45 for a replacement. Withdrawing money in a country outside the States or in a currency other than US Dollars we’d be charged a 3% fee. We’d be allowed two free withdrawals (within limits) and after that, each withdrawal would be $1 under a certain amount (plus the bank/ATM can make additional charges). There was of course a limit as to how much we’d be able to withdraw a day. From all us photographer’s points of view, this entire Ocean Pay seemed like a real money making scheme and we weren't on the receiving end!
Ocean Pay is supposed to be a better way for us to get paid, transfer money etc. It’s a great idea if you’re on the receiving end of it all. The cards, according to the terms and conditions, are going to cost us $5 a month. Image HQ say, this isn't true. There’s a page long list of all the charges which are a real turn off. When reading through it all, it seemed the words “turn off" were, in fact, an understatement. If the card gets lost or stolen the card holder would be charged $45 for a replacement. Withdrawing money in a country outside the States or in a currency other than US Dollars we’d be charged a 3% fee. We’d be allowed two free withdrawals (within limits) and after that, each withdrawal would be $1 under a certain amount (plus the bank/ATM can make additional charges). There was of course a limit as to how much we’d be able to withdraw a day. From all us photographer’s points of view, this entire Ocean Pay seemed like a real money making scheme and we weren't on the receiving end!
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